SHORT SUMMARY

We would like to reprint for the displaced Artsakh kids the psycho-playful activity book created after the war in 2020. Intended primarily for children from Armenia and Artsakh aged 6 to 13, this notebook was imagined by clinical psychologist Anouch Sarafian-Chahbenderian and co-created with illustrator Maïda Chavak. 

PROBLEM

Most of children in Armenia are still isolated from any psychological help. Mental care structures are few in Armenia and concentrated in few cities, leaving a large part of the population without the possibility of monitoring or listening. There is also a societal barrier to verbalizing emotions. The need for psychological support is difficult to express.

The notebook is a playful and poetic approach aims to support thought processes and the expression of emotions in a societal and family context of unspoken and low interaction with children.

IMPACT

The playful and poetic approach aims to open up a space of expression and speech. The child can if he wishes to share his achievements in the family and use the booklet like a talking stick. The activities encourage the construction of a imaginary, the putting into action of thought process in inventiveness, creativity, play, but also through information processing and ability to project and set goals objectives through sufficient control emotions. The notebook is self-guided, it can however be used as mediation tool for childcare professionals. 

10 000 notebooks already printed and distributed since 2020 with the support of NGOs and armenian associations : UNHCR, Yerkir, Fondation Armenia, Kooyrigs, UGAB, SPFA, Santé Arménie, Douleurs Sans Frontières, All for Armenia, Women's Support Center, Women Ressource Center, KASA, Arevamanuk, Therapists for Armenia, Caritas, Emili Aregak Center etc.

TEAM

Maïda CHAVAK - Scénographer and Visual artist, Maïda Chavak tinkers with images, exhibitions, walks, pastoral or urban installations, narratives and pedagogic tools. She works between France and Armenia. www.maidachavak.com

Anouch SARAFIAN-CHAHBENDERIAN is a clinical psychologist. She works in child protection in Paris and for three years has been developing notebooks with Maïda Chavak deployed in areas of war or natural disasters.

BUDGET

The entire budget is for printing and distribution.

The notebook is ready for printing.

It will be printed by ANTARES (Yerevan)

STAGES

1. Printing of 10 000 notebooks
2. Distribution via a associative network
3. Working with teams of psychologists in the field